Any tips for a journalist/communications consultant looking for work in BA?

[klin]

Anyone familiar with the media environment in Buenos Aires?

I'm a Canadian journalist looking to relocate to Argentina after a year spent focused on human rights reporting in Malawi, and I'm looking for some tips on where to start the job-hunt in BA (and doing the type of work that typically isn't found in the "Wanted" ads). I lived in Mexico for two years prior to my training as a journalist, so I know Spanish, but don't feel that Mexico is the best place for me to go at the moment (and certainly not as a journalist!).

I have also done communications consultancy for the UK-based NGO, Concern Universal, but I'm not sure that donor presence is all that high in Argentina...I'm really wanting to make this move work!

 

[steveinbsas]

If there are any links to your work I suggest you provide them here.

You never know where that might lead.

Good luck.

 

[HenryNisental]

We need another human rights zealot like a new hole in the head.
Where were you guys when the militars were in power?
Any of you are going to investigate the 1502 persons killed by the terrorists, even during a democratically elected goverment?

 

[bebero]

the media environment here is very closed and it pays very little. i don't suggest coming without an income.

 

[Fabe]

To Henrynisental
I often wondered that myself.
i cannot lay blame on the OP. news organizations were at the forefront reporting about abuses on both sides
Why doesnt the goverment open the files on those who shredded innocent civilians in the name of marxism , socialism , and downright stupid romantic revolucionario ideas ?
I think its a great misjustice that the human rights issue has been co-opted for political fanfare.
I dont recall seeing Luis D'elia , or Guillermo Moreno , or Anibal Fernandez waving any pancards for the disapeared in the seventies.
Sorry for taking it off topic , but i had to ask the question.
Is there any record , say in the UN or in Amnesty international of the ERP , or the montoneros or any other of those goops where they even lodged a complaint against the dictatorship of 76 ?

 

[klin]

Agreed, Henrynisental - that's precisely why I'm interested in heading south (I may have missed the boat during previous decades, as I'm only 27). It seems to me that the only headlines that make it internationally are related to economic news - which is inextricably linked to human rights issues, but that connection is not always made - and I would like to give more attention to such topics.

I have worked with IRIN and have approached them re: reporting humanitarian affairs from South America; however, they don't have a bureau in South America as of yet...that's not to say that there aren't issues that need to be reported on...it's difficult being in this position because as much as we might know that there are a plethora of stories to report on, it doesn't always mean that there's a media outlet to pick it up.

 

[klin]

And thanks, Bebero, that's why I wanted to scope out the situation before making any big decisions.

 

[gpop]

... even lodged a complaint against the dictatorship of 76 ?

I think the '76 Olympics, and prior to that the October Crisis in '70 and Quebecois issues were keeping the hackettes busy until the Olympics and after that you had Canadas secession from England in '82.
Always an excuse eh?

 

[Bajo_cero2]

Klin, I think you should contact some NGOs: "CELS" and "Poder Ciudadano".
The CELS is the NGO of abuelas de Plaza de Mayo and Estela de Carloto

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estela_Barnes_de_Carlotto

Estela de Carloto was a kindergarden teacher when her daughter who was pregnant was kidnapped. Her grandson who was born in an illegal maternity (under military jurisdiction) is still missing. Her husband was kidanapped too, tortured and release after the payment of a randsom to the military criminals.

This is the CELS website:

http://www.cels.org.ar/home/index.php?info=&ids=&lang=en&ss=

They are responsible for the trial against the military who were involved in crimes against the humanity. I also think that "abuelas" are responsible for the stop of political violence in this country.

You will find out that this is a very sophisticated NGO and they might be a little nasty and/or arrogant.

Poder Ciudadano is the other NGO I suggest you contact. They are related to Transparency International and this NGO was founded by Luis Moreno Ocampo.

http://poderciudadano.org/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luis_Moreno_Ocampo

Those are the 2 most prestigious NGO about Human Rights and the most professional.

I suggest you avoid "Madres de Plaza de Mayo" which is related to Hebe de Bonafini.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebe_de_Bonafini

she is a bit extremist -and crazy- but it is understandable as soon as her 2 sons and a daughter are desaparecidos. I think that her organization is still living in the 70's with all its defects.

CORREPI is another NGO to avoid. They are focus on illegal police assesination and torture. They have this extreme left idea about to show the defects of the capitalism as a way to open minds for the revolution.
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There is another you can visit:

La Asamblea Permanente por los Derechos Humanos:
http://www.apdh-argentina.org.ar/

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Regarding the off topic, I don t believe about the Theory of the two demons.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_the_two_demons

However, even there were several crimes commited by members of Montoneros or ERP or whatever, they can be prosecuted only of they were commited with the help or the acquiescence of the State during democracy. Otherwise, they are prescribed.

If the crimes were commited during the dictadura, they might be legal depending on the facts.

National Constitution:
Artículo 21.- Todo ciudadano argentino está obligado a armarse en defensa de la patria y de esta Constitución, conforme a las leyes que al efecto dicte el Congreso y a los decretos del Ejecutivo nacional.

Artículo 36.- Esta Constitución mantendrá su imperio aun cuando se interrumpiere su observancia por actos de fuerza contra el orden institucional y el sistema democrático. Estos actos serán insanablemente nulos.
Sus autores serán pasibles de la sanción prevista en el Artículo 29, inhabilitados a perpetuidad para ocupar cargos públicos y excluidos de los beneficios del indulto y la conmutación de penas.
Tendrán las mismas sanciones quienes, como consecuencia de estos actos, usurparen funciones previstas para las autoridades de esta Constitución o las de las provincias, los que responderán civil y penalmente de sus actos. Las acciones respectivas serán imprescriptibles.
Todos los ciudadanos tienen el derecho de resistencia contra quienes ejecutaren los actos de fuerza enunciados en este artículo.

The assesination of Rucci is a good example of a crime that might be prosecuted as soon as there were montoneros in the government of Provincia de Buenos Aires who, being diputes, worked on the operation traviata during democracy. (I suggest the reading of "Operacion Traviata")

In fact, there is a case open at the Federal Court.

Other example is:
The attack to the Barracks of Infanteria de Monte in Corrientes, "Operacion Primicia" (I suggest the reading of "Operacion Primicia" and "Montoneros, la arrogancia armada".)
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operacion_Primicia

Resuming: 1) those crimes can be only being prosecuted if they were commited during democracy 2) They were done with help or the acquiescence of the State.

Regards

 

[sesamosinsal]

Why doesnt the goverment open the files on those who shredded innocent civilians in the name of marxism , socialism , and downright stupid romantic revolucionario ideas ?

Are you implying that people haven't been killed in the name of capitalism?

You have to remember that there are economic theories, and then there is a ruling group of people hellbent on maintaining its power. You find that group in essentially every country, be it predominantly capitalist, socialist, or communist.

It probably won't be in my lifetime, but I foresee a moment when people reject all of the mainstream economic theories -- the big three -- and search for something different.

As far as Henry's question about where the human rights zealots were in the 70s: They were simply too preoccupied with stopping the spread of communism -- otherwise known as the policy of containment. Declassified U.S. State Department cables (written by FSOs at the US Embassy who are a bit like journalists, but just more connected) from the 70s show that we knew very well what was going on. We might have not known about the extent to which it was happening, but we knew that there were people being disappeared and secret prisons. The same thing can be said for Chile, Brazil, and much of the rest of Latin America. And unfortunately, the U.S. still is forced to ignore, in large part, the human rights abuses in the Middle East. Bahrain, for example, has been revolting since February, but there's no way the U.S. is going to come out against Bahrain right now, given the presence of our Navy 5th Fleet. How would we secure the passage of oil through the Persian Gulf, into the Strait of Hormuz? Unfortunately, most human rights policies are dependent upon economic realities first. And as much as I'd love the U.S. to come out against Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, it would be comparative to breaking millions upon millions of necks to save a few. It turns my stomach to say that.

The best thing that the U.S. could do right now is to drastically cut its oil consumption. Besides (oil) being the source of so much pain in the world, it would allow the U.S. to stay true(r) to its values.

P.S. Sorry to continue the hijacking of the thread...